Wringer



J. W. BRANDT June 4, I940.

WRINGER Original Filed July 13, 1932 I N V F N TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 4, 1940 PATENT OFFICE WRINGER James W. Brandt, Erie, Pa., assignor to Lovell Manufacturing Company, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania July 13, 1932, Serial No. 622,223 Renewed June 21, 1938 Application 4 Claims.

In the operation of power wringers there is certain danger of the operator becoming caught in the rolls and under these conditions, as well as in some operating conditions, it is desirable to instantly release the'pressure on the rolls so as to reduce. the injury to the operator, or to clothes that may be wound on the rolls. When the operator becomes caught, or the emergency happens, there is a certain amount of panic and fright and it is necessary, therefore, that the means for releasing the pressure be such that the operator can readily and will almost instinctively actuate the means to effect the release. The present invention is designed to simplify and to meet the requirements of a safety release. Features and details of the invention will appear from the specification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the wringer, partly in section.

Fig. 2 an enlarged end view of the wringer.

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 an end view of an alternative construction. J

Fig. 5 a front elevation of the releasing end of the wringer having the modification shown in Fig. 4.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, l marks the base of the wringer, 2 one of the side stiles, 3 the other side stile, and 4 and 5 the wringer rolls. These rolls are provided with shafts 6 and l.- and the shafts are journaled in bearings 8 and 9.

The pressure means is afforded by a spring H] which is adjusted by: a screw H operating in a top bar l2. The top bar is preferably formed of sheet metal of channel form, the ends of the top bar being closed and the top bar telescoping over the tops of the stiles. Lips 14 are struck out of one end of the top bar exposing a shoulder l5 below the lip. A similar lip is struck out of the end wall of the stile forming a shoulder l6 which engages the shoulder 15 and holds this end of the top bar against upward movement when the parts are in normal position.

A roller I! is journaled crosswise at the opposite end of the top bar. This is engaged by a latch l8, the latch extending down along the face of the stile and having ears l9 extending each side of the stile and these ears are pivotally secured to theside stile by pins 20. The engagement of the latch l8 with the roller is unstable, that is to say, it does not extend beyond the center of the roller with relation to the pivotal axis of the latch so that if unrestrained the latch will be disengaged from the roller through the pressure on the-top bar from the spring H]. The latch has an upwardly extending trip finger 2| and this is engaged by a trip arm 22 on a cross rod-23. This cross rod is journaled in arms 24 struck up from the top bar. The central part of the top bar is off-set downwardly and journaled in lips 25 struck up from the top bar and this portion of the rod is off-set laterally at 26' to clear the screw II. The lips 24 and 25 are formed originally with open top slots for receiving the operating rod 23 and are then closed at 21 (see Fig. 2) so as to complete the journal for the cross rods.

In operation, when it is desired to release the pressure the cross rod is struck forcing it either to the front, or rear and this swings the trip arm 22 out of engagement with the trip finger 2| and immediately the latch disengages the roller and permits the release end of the cross bar to swing upwardly and this in turn releases the opposite end of the bar so that the bar with the operating parts is completely detached from the top of thewringer. This gives entire freedom to the upper roll so that all pressure may be released from the operator.

It will be noted that this top bar extends over the top of the wringer and that the operator by engaging it from either the front, or the rear of the wringer, can push it from him, or draw it toward him and in either case there is an immediate release. The hand of the operator is above the top bar and is in position to catch the, top bar as it is released. The position of the release rod is such that it is in full view of the operator and immediately indicates its manner of operation.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the operating rod. 29 may be made in all respects similar to the rod 23, or it may be made without the upward projections and have the rod straight from end to end except for the lateral off-set of the screw. Arms 30 extend from the rod 29 to the front and rear of the wringer at each end of the rod and cross bars 3| connect the arms 30, these bars extending across the face of the wringer. A movement in either direction of either bar 3| will swing the arm 22 out of engagement with the finger 2| and thus actuate the release device.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a wringer, the combination of a frame comprising side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a top bar; a pressure means for the rolls acting from the top bar; and a safety release for the pressure means comprising a pivotally mounted latch between the bar and a side stile, said latch having an unstable engagement in looking position, a lock for the latch, and an operating bar for the lock extending across the frame and movable forward and back throughout its length for releasing the lock, said operating bar being rigidly connected with the lock.

2. In a wringer, the combination of a frame comprising side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a top bar; a pressure means for the rolls acting from the top bar; and a safety release for the pressure means comprising a pivotally mounted latch between the bar and a side stile,

3. In a wringer, the combination of a frame comprising side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a top bar a pressure means for the rolls acting from the top bar; and a safety release for the pressure means comprising a pivotally mounted latch between the bar and a side stile, said latch having an unstable engagement in looking position, a lock for the latch, and an operating bar rigidly connected with the lock, said operating bar being pivotally mounted with its pivot below the edge of said operating bar engageable for its operation and with its axis parallel with the axes of the rolls and the relation of the operating edge of the bar to the pivots making the movement of the edge of the bar, as it is operated, transverse with respect to a plane passing through and coinciding with the axes of the rolls.

4. In a wringer, the combination of a frame comprising side stiles; rolls mounted in the frame; a top bar; a pressure means for the rolls acting from the top bar; and a safety release for the pressure means comprising a pivotally mounted latch between the bar and a side stile, said latch having an unstable engagement in locking position, a lock for the latch, and an operating bar for the lock extending across and above the wringer and movable forward and back for releasing the lock, said bar being rigidly connected with the lock.

JAMES W. BRANDT. 

